AUSTRALIA'S PREFERENCE PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81863, 12 October 1906, Page 3

AUSTRALIA'S PREFERENCE

PROPOSALS.

another complication. SENATE REFUSES TO ACCEPT ALTERATIONS Melbocbsb, October 11. Another complication has arisen with regard to British preference. When the Bill was returned to the Senate with preference to British ship eliminated, a long debate ensued and it «u finally determined that the alteration made could not be admitted «m account of Hs informality, the amendment not being a modification of Uw benat«'» request, which was the only change permissible under the Standing Orders, Xhe House of Representatives will disci • J-the measure to-day.

SENATE ACCUSED OF PARTY BIAS.

TO DEFEAT BRITISH PREFERENCE. HOUSE ASKED TO ASSERT ITS RIGHTS. SPECIAL AMENDING BILL BILL PASSED. Received 11th, 10.49 P- m - Melbourne, October 11. The House of Represent atives considered the Senate's decision regarding British preference Mr Deakin said no far as the request for amendment of the date to August 31st was concerned, ihat was all right, but in declaring that the amendment made by the House of Representatives wa, not a modification of their request, ii entered ground that was impossible for the House to discuss. He declared it was a proper modification oi ibe Senate a request ,and tae Senate'! action was not wanting in elements of a party character which, by some form of device, wanted to get rid of British pieference ahogeihcr. If the provision with regard to Bruiah ships was left in, it would seiiously imperil the Bill. lie proposed to ask the Governor-General to recommend the necessary alteration in the Bill by message. Mr Deakin, continuing, said this

British preference should not be defeated while the Government could help it. No resort should be left untried to give it effect. He askeu the House to assert its rights against a lection of the Senate. Mr Joseph Cook, while supporting the House asserting its rignts dedared it had no right to drag the Go-vernor-General into party politics, , 1 to use the Governor-General and hi' office to serve certain party cncis. U

would degrade the House, degrade i politics, and the conduct of busmm-. The Government proposed to set every law of Parliament at defiance and resort to every shift in order to get a wretched placard to go to th> country on. It was a most unwarrantable and dangerous proceeding. After a long discussion, M,r Dea-

king suggested that the difficulty might be overcome by passing thi; Bill, and immediately introducing a new Bill embodying the amendment - ia dispute, as an amendment to thi present Bill. This course was ad opted, the amending measure setting out that the British Preference Act

was amended by omitting the discrim inaiion in favour of British shipping, and the Bill passed all its stages.

PECULIAR TACTICS. SENATE REJECTS THE AMEND ING BILL. Received 12th, 12.33 a.m. Melbourne, October 11. The Senate made short work of th< Amending Preference Bill Mr Play fcrd, without comment, read the third reading of the Bill as sent down from the Senate and returned from the House of Representatives, on the-un-derstanding that the Amending Bi': was to immediately follow. The third' reading was carried by 17 to 7. Mr Playford then moved the first reading of the Amending Bill, which omitted preference to British ships. This was rejected by 19 to 5, and the Bills were sent back to the House of Representatives. WHOLE BUSINESS REPEATED. WHAT IS THE POSITION NOW? HOUSE CONSIDERING THE SITUATION.

Received 12th, 1.12 a.m. Melbourne, October 11. The House of Representatives again

passed the Amended Preference Bill

and it was returned to the Senate, accompanied by a message from the Go-vernor-General recommending the adoption of the amendment In ihe Senate. Mr Playford explain ed that the Governor-General wan acting on the advice of his Ministers, who had recommended the amendment*. He pointed out the necessity of the amendments in view of the treatiei with other colonies, but the Senate would have none of the amendments, rejecting tho Bill by 16 to 6.

The House of Representatives, which had meantime temporarily adjourned, met again, and it is discussing the situation.